Automatic dispenser and lock release mechanism for games



C. ROSS March 4, 1941 AUTOMATIC DISPENSER AND LOCK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR GAMES Filed July 21, 1959 I N VENTOR. R055 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIU DISPENSER. AND LOCK RELEASE MECHANISM FOR GAMES Charles Ross, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 21,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in games, puzzles and other amusement devices and more particularly resides in the provision of a new and useful dispensing and lock releasing mechanism which will appreciably increase the amusement and entertainment factor of games, puzzles and like devices by reason of an interesting and unique scoring or awarding means which operates automatically upon a successful operation of the game, as well as by reason of the manner in which said mechanism is operated in playing the game or solving the puzzle as the case may be. The mechanism of my invention is adapted for wide application in games and the like and may be advantageously used in educational games and puzzles for children in such manner that the solving of an educational problem, such as the correct spelling of a word, etc., with the game apparatus will bring about a fitting award automatically in accordance with my invention.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel game board having the dispensin and lock releasing means embodied therein in small compass and in such manner that all moving actuating parts are effectively concealed, and the scoring or awarding means is displayed as a plurality of normally closed and locked compartments on the playing surface of the board, and will automatically open when the game is successfully played.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide game apparatus of the character described which will include a board adapted to be punched 35' by a stylus or pointed instrument in the playing thereof, and, wherein the scoring and awarding means will automatically operate on the upper surface of the board when the player punches the board at a predetermined point or points,

these alsobeing an automatic signal such as a bell which will operate simultaneously with the scoring, and awarding means.

Other objects and advantages will appear. in the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which I have described and shown by way of example one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it being understood that I may resort to various changes as to details of construction and arrangement of the parts and elements of the apparatus here shown, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of game 1939, Serial No. 285,717

apparatus embodying my invention, with parts broken away to show in top plan the enclosed operating mechanism of said apparatus,

Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 2, showing the award chamber closed and Fig. 3 showing said chamber as when opened and the manner in which it is operated.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of components of the operating mechanism for unlocking the award chamber or compartment and operating the signal bell,

Fig. 6 is side view of the punching member used in playing game.

In carrying out one embodiment of my invention I provide as shown in the accompanying drawing a game board I, a plurality of normally locked scoring and award chambers or receptacles 8 secured thereon, a plurality of punch openings 9 formed in said board and covered by a paper sheet I0, signal unit II is enclosed between upper and lower sections la. and lb of the board, and an operating mechanism l2 operable between said board sections and associated with certain of said openings 9 so that when a punch member such as the one l4 here shown is inserted in said certain openings, the scoring and award chambers will be unlocked and the signal units operated.

Obviously I may use but one scoring and award chamber and a single operating means thereof or any number of such units as within the purview of this invention. Any suitable game award or score designating member may be contained in the chamber or chambers 8 and each chamber may have a glass or other transparent top Wall I5 to reveal the award. The award is not here shown, inasmuch. as it is obvious that candy, gum, or a piece of paper or card having a score designation thereon and in fact any of a great variety of premiums or awards could be mounted in said chambers. Fortune telling cards could be used as awards to make an amusing fortune telling game, or candy or any other suitable prize could be used where the game is used as an educational device. In the latter case, the paper sheet [0 could be designated with characters to guide the child in solving spelling or arithmetical problems and the mechanism arranged so that the correct punching operation will bring about an opening of the award compartments. It is not thought necessary to illustrate these various adaptations and uses of the apparatus as I consider the apparatus subject to use to which it.

may be put, as within the scope and purview of my invention.

Referring more specifically to the construction of the game apparatus of my invention, it is seen that the upper and lower sections Ia. and lb of the game board may be fixed together permanently as by fastenings I6 which are preferably concealed by the paper sheet II] or otherwise. A similar paper sheet Illa may be glued or otherwise secured upon bottom of the board to conceal the bottoms of the openings 9. In this connection it is noted that each of the openings 9 is provided with a tubular plug I! which is vertically slidable therein so as to be displaced when the punch member l4 comes in contact therewith. Certain of these tubular plugs ll have flexible elements l9 fixed thereto as at 20 and extending through passages 2| in the section Tb' for connection with latch releasing members 22. These members 22 are mounted in recesses 23 beneath the bottom walls 24 of the compartments or chambers 8. The compartments or chambers 8 are secured in recesses 25 formed in the upper section '!a of the game board and are provided with end closures 26 hinged thereto as at 21. These closures are normally held in closing position by means of spring latches 28 fastened as at 29 to the bottoms 24 of said chambers and extending upwardly through openings 39 so as to engage with apertured keepers 3| on said closures whereby to lock the compartments closed. The latch releasing members 22 are slidably supported on inclined portions 32 of the latches 28 so that when pulled in one direction will ride over said inclined portions which serve as cams whereby to retract the latches from the keepers as shown in Figure 3. Retraction of these latches is effected when the operator manipulates the punch l4 so as to depress one of the tubular plugs H to which one of the flexible elements l9 are connected, this being illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The depression of the said tubular plugs effects a pull on the flexible elements l9 which in turn pull the latch releasing members 22 so that the latches 28 are retracted as hereinbefore noted.

When the members 22 are retracted as aforesaid, flexible elements 34 connected therewith are operated so as to retract spring loaded pawls 35 of the signal units H. These spring loaded pawls release spring loaded escapement mechanisms 36 for operating bell clappers 31 to strike the bells 38. The bell units l I are mounted in suitable complementary recesses in the game board sections so as to be enclosed therebetween and will therefore operate coincident with the opening of the compartments to signal to the player thata score has been made. The spring operated escape mechanisms 36 may be wound by means of a suitable key not shown which is inserted through an aperture 39 in the bottom of the game board.

It will now be seen by having each opening 9 contain one of the tubular plugs H, with each plug identical in appearance from. the top, it will not be possible to identify the plug or plugs which are connected with the operating mechanism. The flexible elements l9 may each have an enlar ged end as indicated in which is countersunk shown in the tubular plug to which connected so that the connection cannot be seen y from above when the paper cover i torn away or removed.

It will now be apparent that the game apparatus of my invention consisting of but few parts of simple construction and arrangement may be conveniently embodied in a flat game board of simple construction so that the working. mechanism excepting the scoring and award chambers will be enclosed and concealed within the board, whereby to provide for a novel and highly amusing game device subject to many uses and purposes and adaptable for educational uses in instructing children. The awards and score indications which may be contained in said compartments will at all times be visible to the player by reasons of the glass tops IE but cannot be reached until the player successfully manipulates the punch M in accordance with the rules of the game, to actuate a plug member I! which is connected with the operating mechanism and thereby releases the latch means to open the compartments as aforesaid.

It should be noted that the apparatus hereof is also adaptable to use as a vending machine, in

that the commodity or merchandise to be vended would be contained and displayed in the closed compartments 8 and the openings 9 could be limited in number to the number of compartments used and each plug I! in said openings connected to operating mechanism for opening the compartments.

Attention is called to the fact that the compartment means and the signal means, each come prises a scoring device, in that, when the operator engages the plug having the operating means connected therewith, the ensuing operation of one of said means constitutes in effect, a score for the player. I

I claim:

1. A game apparatus including a game board having a punch receiving opening therein, a compartment carried by said board and adapted to contain an article, a closure movable for closing and for affording access to the interior of said compartment, means for locking said closure in closed position, a plug in said opening adapted to be moved by contact with a punch or other, member which may be inserted into said opening, and means. operating responsive to such movement of said plug for releasing said locking means.

2. A game apparatus including a game board having a punch receiving opening therein, a compartment carried by said board and adapted to contain an article, a closure movable for. closing and for affording access to the interior of said compartment, means for locking said closure in closed position, a member on the board arranged to be moved by contact with a punch which" is inserted into said opening, and means operating responsive to such movement of said member for releasing said'locking means, said compartment having a transparent wall'affording the display of the article therein whilethe compartment is closed.

CHARLES ROSS} 

